I've seen them in a half circle for large groups. In Pensacola (even with the crowds for Blue Angels week) vendors were not allowed to put the chairs right at water's edge. They had to leave room for non-vendor renting people between the MWL and the vendor chairs. We all set our tents (ours is small) in front of them. Most weren't occupied anyway. Some groups that had rented vendor chairs put chairs in front of their rented chairs to not spoil their view. We took our tent up every afternoon. Many left the skeleton up with all of their belongings underneath. I read where a turtle got caught in a beach chair and died. No to get off thread, but there are many people out there that have no idea about the sea turtles. Especially in Pensacola.
I agree these beach vendors really block the view of our beautiful beaches... I have lived in other coastal communities and while some have had beach vendors, NONE have ever had a picket fence set up where you can't see or walk through...sad